Shrewsbury Complex Settles Housing Discrimination Case

Date: March 8, 2006 

 

Contacts: 

Jonathan Mannina, Esq. (508-752-3718) 

Joel Feldman, Esq. (413-788-7988) 

 

Maria Dos Anjos and Oeun Ros, two former residents at The Green At Shrewsbury condominium complex in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, are to receive a total of $75,000 to settle their federal housing discrimination lawsuit against the complex. Ms. Dos Anjos and Ms. Ros had alleged in their complaint that the complex, also known as Shrewsbury Green, discriminated against families with children by using rules which prevented these families from enjoying the same residency rights as other residents. 

 

The residents pointed to specific rules of Shrewsbury Green which they believed discriminated against their families. For example, Shrewsbury Green required that any child under eight was to be supervised by an adult at all times in the common areas of the complex. Relying on this rule, Shrewsbury Green repeatedly fined residents when their children were outside playing with friends, or when waiting for the bus which was to take them to school. Other rules included a prohibition on any child under eighteen from using the exercise room and unreasonable restrictions on the use of the common swimming pool. Shrewsbury Green had also removed a playground area at the complex and prevented use of a basketball court by placing dumpsters directly on the court.

 

“I was glad that I was able to bring the case and hope that Shrewsbury Green will improve its relationship with families with children,” said Ms. Dos Anjos, through an interpreter. She also stated, “I hope that Shrewsbury Green has learned it cannot discriminate against families and children.” Ms. Ros reports that she is “pleased with the settlement and hopes that it will enable more children to reside in the complex.” 

 

As part of the settlement, Shrewsbury Green employees must attend fair housing training, display prominently a “fair housing” poster, and review and revise the rules of the complex. “We are very pleased with this settlement, which will compensate Ms. Dos Anjosand Ms. Ros for the harm they suffered by Shrewsbury Green’s enforcement of these discriminatory rules, and which should send a message to other complexes that rules concerning children must be fair and reasonable or the complexes will be in violation of the fair housing laws,” said Jonathan Mannina of the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, one of the lawyers for the residents. 

 

The Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts (“LACCM”) is a private, non-profit corporation located at 405 Main Street in Worcester. LACCM is funded in part by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Fair Housing Initiatives Program. The residents were also represented by Joel Feldman of Heisler, Feldman, McCormick & Garrow of Springfield, which specializes in discrimination cases for persons suffering discriminahousing, employment and public accommodations.